The open wound of 1974, with the violent displacement and refugee, the dead and the missing, “the destruction of our cultural and religious heritage, the alteration of the demographic character of our island and the flagrant violation of our basic human rights, has carved erasing the modern history of our country, indicating our duty to fight for the liberation and reunification of our homeland”, emphasized on Wednesday the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athina Michailidou.
In her greeting at a conference organized by Idalio High School with the theme: “Fifty years later Cyprus, I close my eyes and kiss your body”, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of a large part of Cyprus, the Minister of Education congratulated the students, the teachers, as well as the school management for their initiative.
“An initiative that is a continuation of the rest of the activity you undertake, proving every day that the concept of educational offer is not exhausted in purely educational work. On the contrary, it includes, at the same time, all those actions that develop and cultivate the patriotism of male and female students, inspiring them, at the same time, to contribute creatively to the development of a healthy society and to the building of world peace. It is in this effort that today's meeting also contributes”, he added.
He noted that “the highest obligation and priority of all of us is the prevalence of justice in our country, through finding a workable and sustainable solution”.
“What we seek, as stated by the President of the Republic, is for Cyprus to become a truly independent state, which will enable all its legal citizens to live together and co-create, in conditions of security, peace and stability. We claim these inalienable rights enjoyed by every European citizen, to which all of us are entitled, and above all you children”, he added.
In this direction, continued Minister of Education, “we must look to the past”.
“To draw lessons both from the painful consequences brought to our country by the division that preceded the invasion and from the important achievements that the Cypriot people achieved, succeeding then, through unity and like-mindedness, to stand upright and progress in refugee,” he added.
As he said, “with this same single-mindedness, having as a valuable legacy the state of the Republic of Cyprus, which is a modern European country with international recognition, we intensify our faith and fighting spirit for justice and return to our ancestral homes”.
The Minister of Education emphasized that seeing the forerunners of this peaceful struggle that we are conducting, “all of you, the young men and women of our country, we cannot but feel emotion, pride and optimism”.
“The exhibition we opened a while ago, with your own works, as well as your increased willingness and participation in the rest of the actions that frame the program of the day , we are filled with optimism that you will continue to fight for the liberation of our country, its progress and prosperity. The school continues the cultivation of 'I don't forget, I fight, I claim', through activities and experiential workshops, such as today's. I hope that, soon, we will be able to enjoy such initiatives in all the schools of our now free country”, he concluded.
Source: KYPE
